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Sale 46
The Millennia Collection
| Lot |
Photo |
Description |
Realized |
Lot 426 |
 |
Great Britain. Sovereign, 1824. S-3800; Fr-376; KM-682. George IV, Laureate Head left. Reverse: St George and the Dragon, date below. Reeded edge. Sharply struck and most pleasing. While never trumpeted as a rare date among the few issues of this short-lived series, this is elusive in this condition and in fact seldom found anywhere near the quality of this coin. NGC graded MS-63.
Estimated Value $2,500 - 3,000.
Ex Dr Jacob Y. Terner Collection.
View details and enlarged photos
| Realized
$4,025 |
Lot 427 |
 |
Great Britain. Pattern Sovereign, 1825. WR-236. By William Wyon after Chantrey's model. The reverse by Merlen. George IV, 1820-1830. Bare head left. Reverse: Crowned, ornately garnished shield. Reeded edge. R5, extremely rare (6 to 10 known). A choice specimen, with light golden toning and a nicely frosted portrait and shield. NGC graded Proof 64 Cameo.
1825 was the year in which the king intervened in matters numismatic, insisting that his laureate portrait be replaced on all the coinage. Evidently he felt the earlier portrait made him look too much like a "Roman," along with his face looking too full (in fact he was a portly man). Thus this new style shows him with an almost slim neck and a much lighter and naturalistic face.
Estimated Value $8,000 - 9,000.
Ex Dr Jacob Y. Terner Collection.
View details and enlarged photos
| Realized
$10,925 |
Lot 428 |
 |
Great Britain. Sovereign, 1825. S-3800; Fr-376a; KM-682. George IV, 1820-1830. Laureate Head left. Reverse: St George and the Dragon, date below. Well struck and with old-time, well-set gold surfaces, some obvious abrasions but no hint of wear as the luster is intact even on the high points of the design, and the fields in general are unusually free from blemishes. Among the finest ever seen by this cataloguer, with almost no Mint State pieces showing up in any London sales for many years. NGC graded MS-63.
In this lofty grade this coin is an extreme rarity. In Spink it catalogues for £3,000 in EF grade, and in Uncirculated Spink leaves it unpriced. Evidently its rarity stems from the fact that the portrait was changed in this year to the Bare Head design. Production of Laureate Head sovereigns dated 1825 must have been quite limited, and evidently virtually all of them passed quietly into circulation; most known pieces show a lot of wear, meaning that they were used as money for many years and were not recognized as rarities until it was too late to save them. This is an important coin and should be hotly sought after in this, the most intense market for sovereigns ever.
Estimated Value $5,000 - 6,000.
Ex Dr Jacob Y. Terner Collection.
View details and enlarged photos
| Realized
$11,500 |
Lot 429 |
 |
Great Britain. Five Pounds, 1826. S-3797; Fr-373; KM-702. George IV, 1820-1830. Bare Head left. Reverse: Crowned shield and mantle. Inscribed edge. Issued in a set. Mintage unknown, variously estimated between 120 and 400 pieces, the truth being closer to the low estimate, for this is a very rare piece, and here is a truly superb example having a most impressive eye appeal. NGC graded Proof 66 Cameo.
Estimated Value $25,000 - 30,000.
View details and enlarged photos
| Realized
$55,200 |
Lot 430 |
 |
Great Britain. 2 Pounds, 1826. S-3799; Fr-374; KM-701. George IV, 1820-1830. Bare Head left. Reverse: Crowned and manteled shield. Impeccable strike, with nearly pristine surfaces. The king's portrait, with lustrous satiny sheen to the flesh areas, is in sharp cameo contrast to the surrounding reflective fields. His hair and the reverse device mostly matte. The whole with appealing rose toning. Mintage unknown but likely about 120-150 pieces. Very rare and moreso in this quality. NGC graded Proof 65 Ultra Cameo.
Estimated Value $20,000 - 25,000.
View details and enlarged photos
| Realized
$41,400 |
Lot 431 |
 |
Great Britain. Proof Sovereign, 1826. S-3801; Fr-377a; KM-696. George IV, 1820-1830. Bare Head left. Reverse: Crowned ornately garnished shield. Reeded edge. Mintage unknown, between 120 and 400 pieces. Rated R2 (very rare) by WR (as #237). All of the coins of this style are rarer than catalogue values suggest when in truly choice states. Cameo relief, typical of the Proofs of this year. Superb! NGC graded Proof 66 Ultra Cameo.
The special sets of this year were occasioned by the king's own request that his portrait on all his coinage be changed to this new style, which shows him as being much less portly than he actually was. Actually, it's quite a dignified bust.
Estimated Value $4,000 - 5,000.
Ex Dr Jacob Y. Terner Collection.
View details and enlarged photos
| Realized
$10,350 |
Lot 432 |
 |
Great Britain. Proof Half Sovereign, 1826. S-3804; Fr-380a; KM-700. George IV, 1820-1830. Issued in the set of this year. Bare Head left. Reverse: Crowned, ornately garnished shield. Superb in all respects, and among the finest pieces we have ever encountered. NGC graded Proof 66 Ultra Cameo.
Mintages in Proof of the sovereign and half-sovereign pieces must have been higher than for the complete set of this year, quite possibly occasioned by requests of the Royal Mint to produce collector pieces for the numerous "gentlemen" accumulators of things ornate, which was so much the rage at this time. Nonetheless this is fairly rare, and truly so in immaculate condition.
Estimated Value $3,500 - 4,000.
Ex Dr Jacob Y. Terner Collection.
View details and enlarged photos
| Realized
$7,188 |
Lot 433 |
 |
Great Britain. Proof silver Crown, 1826. S-3806; ESC-257; KM-699. George IV, 1820-1830. Bare Head left. Reverse: Elaborate crowned and crested shield, quartered, with smaller crowned shield at center; motto in banner below. Edge: SEPTIMO. Superb strike, with lustrous to semi-matte devices on mirror fields. Some faint, scattered hairlines under splendid, old dark smokey toning, reflecting iridescent multicolored hues, primarily blue, mauve and pale golden green. A one-year type, made only as a Proof, seldom found in this stunning state of preservation. NGC graded Proof 64.
Estimated Value $7,000 - 8,000.
Ex Cheshire Collection (5/30 - 6/1/05), lot 2583.
View details and enlarged photos
| Realized
$10,925 |
Lot 434 |
 |
Great Britain. Sovereign, 1827. S-3801; Fr-377; KM-696. George IV, 1820-1830. Bare Head left. Reverse: Crowned, ornately garnished shield. In terms of sheer rarity by condition, this gorgeous Gem Uncirculated sovereign is one of the rarest coins in the George IV series. Frosty mint luster, sharp strike, almost no abrasions, with splendid eye appeal. Worth a record price. NGC graded MS-65.
Estimated Value $3,000 - 3,500.
Ex Dr Jacob Y. Terner Collection.
View details and enlarged photos
| Realized
$7,188 |
Lot 435 |
 |
Great Britain. Sovereign, 1829. S-3801; Fr-377; KM-696. George IV, 1820-1830. Bare Head left. Reverse: Crowned, ornately garnished shield. Attractive and problem free for the grade, with handsome and lustrous surfaces and a good, sharp strike. This date is possibly the least appreciated for its rarity in high grade, in this series. NGC graded MS-63.
Estimated Value $1,500 - 1,750.
Ex Dr Jacob Y. Terner Collection.
View details and enlarged photos
| Realized
$2,760 |
Lot 436 |
 |
Great Britain. Gold Sovereign, 1830. S-3801; Fr-377; KM-696. George IV, Bare Head left. Reverse: Crowned,ornately garnished shield. Final year of this charming style, and among the finest to be found, with a sharp strike and marvelous, "fresh" eye appeal. NGC graded MS-64.
Estimated Value $2,500 - 3,000.
Ex Dr Jacob Y. Terner Collection.
View details and enlarged photos
| Realized
$5,520 |
Lot 437 |
 |
Great Britain. Gold Pattern Sovereign, 1830. WR-260. By William Wyon. William IV, 1830-1837. Bare Head right. Reverse: Crowned, ornately garnished shield. Plain edge with high, knifelike rims. Normal coin-die alignment. DM-178 (supposedly this coin, held in a South African collection since the 1974 Douglas-Morris sale). R5, extremely rare (6 to 10 known). A premium specimen having an especially heavy cameo portrait of the king. A coin with dramatic eye appeal! NGC graded Proof 64 Ultra Cameo.
Estimated Value $9,000 - 10,000.
Ex Dr Jacob Y. Terner Collection.
View details and enlarged photos
| Realized
$17,825 |
Lot 438 |
 |
Great Britain. Gold Proof Sovereign, 1831. S-3829; Fr-383a; KM-717. William IV, 1830-1837. Bare Head right. Reverse: Crowned, ornately garnished shield. Plain edge. WR-261 as R3. Only about 225 struck for the Coronation sets. Exact mintage uncertain. Gem Proof with a great cameo image of the king; on the reverse, the royal shield shimmers in deep frost against the mirror field around it. Among the finest known, elusive in this state. NGC graded Proof 65 Ultra Cameo.
William was an older man by the time he came to kingship (born in 1765, third son of George III) and had led a rather eccentric life: he joined the navy at age 13, commanded his own ship in 1786, became a rear-admiral at 24, and retired from active service in 1790, whereupon he took a mistress -- an actress with whom he had 10 illegitimate children (which is why, when he died in 1837, no heir of his succeeded to the throne). Although his own reign was marked mostly by political squabbling, he nevertheless supported the military adamantly during his entire political life, and came to be called The Sailor King in his lifetime. The build-up of the British military that occurred under his rule would figure heavily in the geopolitical success of young Queen Victoria's reign, and figured heavily in the creation of the British Empire at its zenith.
His coinage portrait, in frosted cameo relief on the Proof gold, is realistic and finely engraved. Most of his coins are, at the very least, scarce, as the reign was a short one.
Estimated Value $8,000 - 9,000.
Ex Dr Jacob Y. Terner Collection.
View details and enlarged photos
| Realized
$16,100 |
Lot 439 |
 |
Great Britain. Proof Crown, 1831. S-3833. ESC-271; KM-715. William IV, 1830-1837. Bare Head right; incuse "W.W." on truncation. Reverse: Elaborate crowned and manteled shield, quartered, with smaller crowned shield at center; the shield with collar of St George around. Superb strike, lustrous satiny devices on mirrored fields. Eye-catching medium to deep blue toning on the obverse; the reverse lighter, and similar, but with more gold and russet hues.Very rare. NGC graded Proof 63 Cameo.
Mintage unknown, long said to be 120 pieces for the Coronation sets of this year. However, contemporary restrikes exist in small numbers, and these have varying types of rims. Nonetheless, this is one of the rarest crowns of the modern era, and exceedingly difficult to locate in a truly choice state of preservation. This is an exceptional specimen.
Estimated Value $12,500 - 15,000.
Ex Cheshire Collection (5/30 - 6/1/05), lot 2638.
View details and enlarged photos
| Realized
$16,100 |
Lot 440 |
 |
Great Britain. Sovereign, 1832. S-3829B; Fr-383; KM-717. William IV, 1830-1837. Bare Head right. Reverse: Crowned, ornately garnished shield. One of the nicest sovereigns of this king ever seen, a Gem Uncirculated coin sporting a bold strike. Rare even in AU, and this condition throws the rarity rating to a much higher level. Only a few of this type seen by the cataloguer in such splendid condition over many years. NGC graded MS-65.
Estimated Value $3,000 - 3,500.
Ex Dr Jacob Y. Terner Collection.
View details and enlarged photos
| Realized
$8,625 |
Lot 441 |
 |
Great Britain. Sovereign, 1833. S-3829B; Fr-383; KM-717. William IV, 1830-1837. Bare Head right. Reverse: Crowned, ornately garnished shield. In addition to its technical grade, this Choice BU sovereign exhibits prooflike fields, setting off the devices handsomely. Rare! NGC graded MS-63.
Estimated Value $2,500 - 3,000.
Ex Dr Jacob Y. Terner Collection.
View details and enlarged photos
| Realized
$4,888 |
Lot 442 |
 |
Great Britain. Sovereign, 1837. S-3829B; Fr-383; KM-717. William IV, 1830-1837. Bare Head right. Reverse: Crowned, ornately garnished shield. Last year of issue. A beautiful coin, again with unusually flashy luster for this prooflike piece. Rare grade, choice. NGC graded MS-62.
Estimated Value $2,000 - 2,500.
Ex Dr Jacob Y. Terner Collection.
View details and enlarged photos
| Realized
$3,105 |
Lot 443 |
 |
Great Britain. Pattern Sovereign, 1837. WR-298. DM-200. By William Wyon. Victoria, 1837-1901. "W.W." incuse; tiny roses to sides of date. The reverse shield by Merlen. Plain edge. Smaller young head left. Reverse: Crowned shield within filleted laurel wreath; rose, shamrock and thistle spray below. R6, extremely rare (only 3 to 5 known). The portrait of Victoria, as a young girl, is fairly well frosted, producing a pleasing cameo of the queen. The mirrors show a splendid brilliance, but there are a few tiny scratches in the obverse field and light scuffs on the portrait; the reverse is simply perfect. Finer than the Douglas-Morris plate coin! NGC graded Proof 63 Ultra Cameo.
Struck in the year of Victoria's ascendancy, and one of only a few coins of her reign bearing this date.
Estimated Value $8,000 - 9,000.
Ex Dr Jacob Y. Terner Collection.
View details and enlarged photos
| Realized
$25,300 |
Lot 444 |
 |
Great Britain. Pattern Sovereign, 1837. WR-299. DM-201 (same coin?). By William Wyon. Victoria, 1837-1901. "W.W." incuse; tiny roses to sides of date. Plain edge. Smaller young head left. Reverse: Crowned shield within filleted laurel wreath; rose, shamrock and thistle spray below. Edge of irregular thickness, with knife rims. The digit "3" broken at top of curve. R5, extremely rare (6 to 10 known). A lovely Proof, superb deep cameo, red iridescence. Despite the light abrasions this coin has a marvelous eye appeal. NGC graded Proof 63 Ultra Cameo.
Estimated Value $8,000 - 9,000.
Ex Dr Jacob Y. Terner Collection.
View details and enlarged photos
| Realized
$25,300 |
Lot 445 |
 |
Great Britain. Pattern Sovereign, 1838. WR-300. DM-202 (same coin?). By William Wyon. Victoria, 1837-1901. Plain edge. Large young head left. Reverse: Crowned shield within filleted laurel wreath; rose, shamrock and thistle spray below. Same as normal dies but for an extra curl of hair before Victoria's ear. "W.W." raised on truncation. Digit "3" broken at bottom of curve: the entire date appears larger than on DM-201. Dies inverted. R4, very rare (11 to 20 known), a choice specimen with lovely red iridescence. NGC graded Proof 63 Ultra Cameo.
Estimated Value $12,500 - 15,000.
Ex Dr Jacob Y. Terner Collection.
View details and enlarged photos
| Realized
$24,150 |
Lot 446 |
 |
Great Britain. Sovereign, 1838. S-3852; Fr-387; KM-736.1. Victoria, 1837-1901. Young Head left. Reverse: Crowned shield within filleted laurel wreath; rose, shamrock and thistle spray below. First year of issue; first (small) youthful portrait. This is a very rare date, particularly in this stunning condition. NGC graded MS-65.
Born in 1819, Victoria was still a teenager when this sovereign was minted.
Estimated Value $2,500 - 3,000.
Ex Dr Jacob Y. Terner Collection.
View details and enlarged photos
| Realized
$8,913 |
Lot 447 |
 |
Great Britain. Proof "Una & the Lion" Gold Five Pounds, 1839. S-3851; Fr-386; KM-742. By William Wyon. Victoria, 1837-1901. Young bust of Victoria left, her hair bound with Greek-style ribbons. Reverse: The Queen, dressed as Una, holding scepter and globus cruciger, leads lion left. Egg-and -dart "dentils" on both sides. This gorgeous specimen is remarkably free from scuffs, has only faint, scattered hairlines, and is therefore exceptional. This is among the most famous and desirable of all British coins. NGC graded Proof 64 Ultra Cameo.
Few £5 gold coins were ever minted for circulation, in any reign. The greatest shame in that respect was Queen Victoria's first £5 coin of 1839. The famous "Una and the Lion" design on the reverse makes it one of the most beautiful coins ever minted. Issued only in proof, the 1839 fiver captured the very essence of empire and majesty at the beginning of Victoria's remarkable reign, and took much of its inspiration from the art and literature of the Romantic Era just ended. Mintage reported to be only 400 pieces struck. Later, all gold coins came to feature the standard design of St George slaying the dragon. Since no special name was ever proposed for the £5 coin, a departure from tradition, one wishes that the 1839 design had been continued and the coin perhaps dubbed the "Lion." Only a few pieces have ever been graded at the 63 to 64 level by all the certification companies.
The motto DIRIGE (sometimes DIRIGIT) DEUS GRESSUS MEOS on the reverse means "May God Guide My Footsteps."
The allusion of Una leading the mythic British Lion (variously away from danger or into the future) comes from the epic poem "The Faerie Queene" by Edmund Spenser (1552-1599). Una personifies Truth (Una Veritas, "One Truth"). The Lion finds her sleeping in the woods and prepares to eat her, but then is tamed by her beauty and becomes her protector. On the coin as engraved by William Wyon, Una looks like Queen Victoria. Una is the companion and intended lady of the Redcrosse Knight. The Knight turns out to be Saint George, patron of England, whose Red Cross appears on the flag of England. The image of Una and the Lion thus carries an unusually strong association with allegorical England.
Estimated Value $40,000 - 50,000.
Ex Cheshire Collection (5/30 - 6/1/05), lot 2668. Illustrated in Money of The World, coin 143.
View details and enlarged photos
| Realized
$89,125 |
Lot 448 |
 |
Great Britain. Gold Proof Sovereign, 1839. S-3852; Fr-387a; WR-302; KM-736.1. Victoria, 1837-1901. First Young Head left. Reverse: Crowned shield within filleted laurel wreath; rose, shamrock and thistle spray below. Plain edge. Medal-die alignment. Head with satin-matte luster, the reverse devices brighter. Bright mirrored fields. Very rare: only about 300 coined for the Coronation sets. NGC graded Proof 65 Ultra Cameo.
A beautiful numismatic memento from the beginning of one of the most remarkable reigns in English history. Using the military and naval power which her uncle strengthened during his brief reign, the sheltered Princess Victoria, once she was queen and her family established via her union with Prince Albert (her consort), witnessed and in part guided a dramatic emergence of Britain's empire all during the 1850s through the 1880s. Asia and Africa found British troops in nearly every locale, and the global excursions became known as "Victoria's little wars," preludes all to the horrific, upcoming First World War. Throughout the reign, as well, romanticism and chivalry flourished and the English way of life became such a dominant force in the world that the age itself took its name after Victoria.
Estimated Value $8,000 - 9,000.
Ex Dr Jacob Y. Terner Collection.
View details and enlarged photos
| Realized
$20,125 |
Lot 449 |
 |
Great Britain. Proof Crown, 1839. S-3882; ESC-279; KM-741. Victoria, 1837-1901. Young Head left; plain edge, the queen's hair bound with Greek-style ribbons. Reverse: Crowned shield within filleted laurel wreath; rose, shamrock and thistle spray below. As issued in sets, and a beautiful example indeed: deep purplish, blue and gold iridescent toning, glittering mirror fields, with subtle but pleasant frosted portrait. Very choice, with only very trivial "cabinet friction" evidenced by a few bright spots in the dark toning. Very rare as only about 300 were minted, and few have survived this fine. NGC graded Proof 64.
Estimated Value $10,000 - 12,500.
Ex Cheshire Collection (5/30 - 6/1/05), lot 2718.
View details and enlarged photos
| Realized
$19,550 |
Lot 450 |
 |
Great Britain. Sovereign, 1842. S-3852; Fr-387e; KM-736.1. Victoria, 1837-1901. Young Head left. Reverse: Crowned shield within filleted laurel wreath; rose, shamrock and thistle spray below. Splendid surfaces, strike and satiny luster. A marvelous Gem BU! NGC graded MS-66.
Estimated Value $3,000 - 3,500.
Ex Dr Jacob Y. Terner Collection.
View details and enlarged photos
| Realized
$8,625 |
Lot 451 |
 |
Great Britain. Gothic Crown, 1847. S-3883; KM-744; Dav-106. UNDECIMO lettered edge. Victoria, 1837-1901. Crowned young Gothic bust left, wearing ornately bordered dress. Reverse: Cruciform crowned shields, varying floral emblems in the angles. Soft satiny luster to the frosty, sharply struck devices; the mirror fields remarkably clean. Fine old gray to smokey toning. Exceptional! NGC graded Proof 66.
Estimated Value $8,000 - 10,000.
View details and enlarged photos
| Realized
$11,213 |
Lot 452 |
 |
Great Britain. Sovereign, 1847. S-3852; Fr-387e; KM-736.1. Victoria, 1837-1901. Young Head left. Reverse: Crowned shield within filleted laurel wreath; rose, shamrock and thistle spray below. A marvelous Gem Uncirculated coin, glowing with luster and red toning. NGC graded MS-65.
Estimated Value $2,500 - 3,000.
Ex Dr Jacob Y. Terner Collection.
View details and enlarged photos
| Realized
$4,830 |
Lot 453 |
 |
Great Britain. Sovereign, 1853. S-3852D; Fr-387f; KM-736.1; WR-305. Victoria, 1837-1901. Second, larger Young Head left. Reverse: Crowned shield within filleted laurel wreath; rose, shamrock and thistle spray below. Reeded edge. R3, extremely rare, according to the Wilson & Rasmussen reference. A most pleasing example, with a lovely cameo to the portrait. Mintage unknown, always said to be "very few" in the classic references. NGC graded Proof 64.
Estimated Value $10,000 - 12,500.
Ex Dr Jacob Y. Terner Collection.
View details and enlarged photos
| Realized
$16,675 |
Lot 454 |
 |
Great Britain. Sovereign, 1855. S-3852D; Fr-387e; KM-736.1. Victoria, 1837-1901. WW incused. Second Young Head left. Reverse: Crowned shield within filleted laurel wreath; rose, shamrock and thistle spray below. A wonderful coin, distinguished by prooflike surfaces, which set off the devices particularly well. NGC graded MS-65.
Estimated Value $1,750 - 2,000.
Ex Dr Jacob Y. Terner Collection.
View details and enlarged photos
| Realized
$3,910 |
Lot 455 |
 |
Great Britain. "Ansell" Sovereign, 1859. S-3852E; Fr-387g; KM-736.3. Victoria, 1837-1901. Young Head left. Reverse: Crowned shield within filleted laurel wreath; rose, shamrock and thistle spray below. Very rare in all states, and struck from "brittle gold" supplied by Ansell from Australia, reputedly as an experiment, the distinguishing feature being an added ribbon line in the queen's hair band. 1859 is the only date known of this very rare variety. Perhaps the finest one known! NGC graded MS-63.
Estimated Value $6,000 - 7,000.
Ex Dr Jacob Y. Terner Collection.
View details and enlarged photos
| Realized
$10,925 |
Lot 456 |
 |
Great Britain. Sovereign, 1863. S-3852D; Fr-387e; KM-736.1. Victoria, 1837-1901. Young Head left. Reverse: Crowned shield within filleted laurel wreath; rose, shamrock,and thistle spray below. A superb Gem coin having lovely satiny luster on the reverse and a deep prooflike obverse, setting off the portrait as a stunning cameo. One of the finest young Victoria sovereigns extant. NGC graded MS-65.
Estimated Value $2,000 - 2,500.
Ex Dr Jacob Y. Terner Collection.
View details and enlarged photos
| Realized
$4,370 |
Lot 457 |
 |
Great Britain. Proof Halfcrown, 1864. S-3888. Victoria, 1837-1901. Young Head left. Reverse: Crowned shield within filleted laurel wreath; rose, shamrock and thistle spray below. Reeded edge. Gem Proof with elegant and original, bright silvery "aluminum foil" surfaces, the reverse having a delicate golden blue iridescence. Only a few examples exist in all states of condition, and this one is most probably the finest known. NGC graded Proof 65.
Following the 1840s, and ending with 1850, no halfcrowns were minted for currency use in England until 1874, but Proofs are known of the years 1850, 1862 and 1864 (plus of course the 1853, made for the rare set of that year). This coin is extremely rare: a Proof-only date (Proof of Record) struck for deposit in the foundation stone of the Albert Memorial in Hyde Park, and also a few pieces were struck for sale to museum collections. The cataloguer has always felt this coin was flawless and finer than "65."
Estimated Value $12,000 - 14,000.
Ex Dr Jacob Y. Terner Collection.
View details and enlarged photos
| Realized
$16,675 |
Lot 458 |
 |
Great Britain. Proof Sovereign, 1871. S-3856. Victoria, 1837-1901. Young Head left. Reverse: St George and the Dragon, date below. Plain edge. R4, very rare (just 11 to 20 known). Especially choice with a bright cameo. NGC graded Proof 64 Ultra Cameo.
Estimated Value $7,000 - 8,000.
Ex Dr Jacob Y. Terner Collection.
View details and enlarged photos
| Realized
$14,375 |
Lot 459 |
 |
Great Britain. Proof Sovereign, 1880. WR-323. DM-213. Victoria, 1837-1901. Young Head left. Reverse: Crowned shield within filleted laurel wreath; rose, shamrock and thistle spray below. Plain edge. R5, extremely rare (6 to 10 known). A marvelous specimen with a beautiful cameo of the queen. NGC graded Proof 65 Ultra Cameo.
Estimated Value $8,000 - 9,000.
Ex Dr Jacob Y. Terner Collection.
View details and enlarged photos
| Realized
$19,550 |
Lot 460 |
 |
Great Britain. Proof Sovereign, 1880. WR-324. DM-214. Victoria, 1837-1901. Young Head left. Reverse: St George and the Dragon, date below. Plain edge. R5, extremely rare, fewer than 10 known, including those in museums. Another splendid cameo Proof! NGC graded Proof 64 Ultra Cameo.
Estimated Value $7,000 - 8,000.
Ex Dr Jacob Y. Terner Collection.
View details and enlarged photos
| Realized
$19,550 |
Lot 461 |
 |
Great Britain. Proof Two Pounds, 1887. S-3865; Fr-391a; KM-768. Victoria, 1837-1901. Victoria Jubilee Head. Crowned and veiled older bust left. Reverse: St George and the Dragon, date below. A really choice example, with brilliant mirrors and delightful cameo contrast. NGC graded Proof 64 Ultra Cameo.
The entire mintage was a mere 797 pieces, minted for inclusion in the collector sets commemorating Victoria's jubilee year -- her fiftieth year on the throne.
Estimated Value $2,250 - 2,750.
View details and enlarged photos
| Realized
$3,795 |
Lot 462 |
 |
Great Britain. Proof Sovereign, 1887. S-3866B; Fr-392a; KM-767. Victoria, 1837-1901. Victoria Jubilee Head. Crowned and veiled older bust left. Reverse: St George and the Dragon, date below. A choice example with lovely contrast to the portrait and reverse device. Only 797 pieces struck. NGC graded Proof 63 Ultra Cameo.
Estimated Value $1,000 - 1,250.
Ex Mortimer Hammel Collection, Stack's 1982. Ex Dr Jacob Y. Terner Collection.
View details and enlarged photos
| Realized
$2,040 |
Lot 463 |
 |
Great Britain. Proof Half Sovereign, 1887. S-3869; Fr-393a; KM-766. Victoria, 1837-1901. Victoria Jubilee Head. Crowned and veiled older bust left. Reverse: Crowned, elaborately garnished shield. A particularly beautiful, deep cameo specimen. 797 struck. NGC graded Proof 66 Ultra Cameo.
Estimated Value $1,500 - 1,800.
Ex Mortimer Hammel Collection, Stack's 1982. Ex Dr Jacob Y. Terner Collection.
View details and enlarged photos
| Realized
$3,565 |
Lot 464 |
 |
Great Britain. Pattern Proof Crown, 1887. Victoria, 1837-1901. Queen Victoria, veiled and wearing the famous, bejeweled "small crown," used on state occasions. Reverse: Crowned and helmeted arms supported by crowned lion and collared unicorn. ESC-343; KM-ppn 105. Engraved by J.R. Thomas for Spink. Silver. Plain edge. ESC rates this pattern R5: extremely rare, just 5-10 known! A magnificent example of this most elegant of all Victorian pattern crowns; without doubt the finest known, exhibiting nearly flawless surfaces together with splendid, bright silvery blue iridescence and splashes of gold toning. No finer provenance could exist. NGC graded Proof 66.
This is a superb example of the experimental Jubilee Bust engraved by L.C. Lauer, struck by J.R. Thomas for Spink & Son. The distinctive obverse, which appears on no regular issue, shows the queen's portrait surrounded by her name and titles in English, rather than the traditional Latin abbreviations. This is mated to an exquisitely rendered reverse showing a lion and unicorn on either side of the royal arms. A thistle, shamrock and rose appear in the reverse exergue along with the date in roman numerals.
Estimated Value $9,000 - 10,000.
Ex Dr Jacob Y. Terner Collection, obtained from the grandson of the designer. Probably J.R. Thomas's own specimen.
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| Realized
$12,075 |
Lot 465 |
 |
Great Britain. Proof Crown, 1887. S-3921; ESC-297; Dav-107; KM-765. Victoria, 1837-1901. Victoria Jubilee Head. Crowned and veiled older bust left. Reverse: St George and the Dragon, date below. Gem Proof, satiny to lustrous devices on mirror fields. Appealing delicate golden silvery gray iridescent toning, reflecting additional lavenders and russets. NGC graded Proof 66.
Estimated Value $1,000 - 1,250.
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| Realized
$3,335 |
Lot 466 |
 |
Great Britain. Proof 5 Pounds, 1893. S.3872; Fr-394a; KM-787. Victoria, 1837-1901. Old Head Coinage. Veiled, draped and crowned old bust left. Reverse: St George and the Dragon, date below. Beautifully struck, with velvet to satiny devices on brilliant mirror fields. The metal toned an even deep yellow color. A lovely example with great eye appeal. NGC graded Proof 65 Cameo.
Estimated Value $4,000 - 5,000.
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| Realized
$10,063 |
Lot 467 |
 |
Great Britain. Proof Sovereign, 1893. S-3874; Fr-396a; KM-785. Victoria, 1837-1901. Old Head Coinage. Veiled, draped and crowned old bust left. Reverse: St George and the Dragon, date below. This wonderful coin possesses splendid, untoned surfaces having an exceptional "clear" brightness to them, with an intense hard mirrored brilliance seen in very few of these today. A coiner's masterpiece in gold! Mintage: 773 pieces. Rare in this grade. NGC graded Proof 66 Ultra Cameo.
Estimated Value $3,000 - 4,000.
Ex Dr Jacob Y. Terner Collection.
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| Realized
$8,338 |
Lot 468 |
 |
Great Britain. Proof Half Sovereign, 1893. S-3878; Fr-397a; KM-784. Victoria, 1837-1901. Old Head Coinage. Veiled, draped and crowned old bust left. Reverse: St George and the Dragon, date below. This marvelous example possesses an appealing, frosted to satiny cameo devices, together with undisturbed, glittering mirror fields. Mintage: 773 pieces. Rare in this grade. While this coin, from the Proof set of this year, catalogues in the standard reference for a mere £475 in "FDC," virtually all the pieces seen on the market are contact-marked and extensively hairlined, usually from cleaning. A perfect match to the sovereign above. NGC graded Proof 66 Ultra Cameo.
Estimated Value $1,500 - 1,750.
Ex Dr Jacob Y. Terner Collection.
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| Realized
$3,220 |
Lot 469 |
 |
Great Britain. Proof Crown, 1893. S-3937; KM-783; Dav-108. Victoria, 1837-1901. Old Head coinage. LVI edge. Veiled bust left, wearing low crown. Reverse: St George and the Dragon; date below. Mintage of only 1,329 pieces. Superb strike, with softly satin devices on bright mirror fields. Lovingly cared for and virtually mark free, thus a Superb Gem Proof, with very lovely, light silvery blue iridescence, intermixed with a rich rainbow of colors of many hues! The delicate toning creates a subtle coiner's masterpiece. One of the finest seen in many years. Scarce. NGC graded Proof 66.
Estimated Value $3,000 - 4,000.
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| Realized
$5,750 |
Lot 470 |
 |
Great Britain. Sovereign, 1917. S-3996; Fr-404b; KM-820. George V, 1911-1936. Bare head left. Reverse: St George and the Dragon; date below. Generally well struck, having a very bright luster, with only tiny abrasions or contact marks. The toning adds a lovely red-gold color to the metal. Extremely rare! Catalogues in Spink's reference for £4,750 in EF grade and is unpriced in Mint State. The finest known? Quite likely. An important coin. NGC graded MS-63.
Britain went off the gold standard during World War One, and it meant that almost all of the 1917 sovereigns minted in London went right back into the melting pot, creating a major rarity. The London mint did not resume production of sovereigns until 1925, while the branch mints, especially those farthest removed from the European conflict, continued coining throughout the war years and beyond. This uninterrupted employment of gold coin as a circulating, commercial currency suggests a substantial degree of financial stability, yet the death knell for the Gold Standard had begun. Paper money issued by the Treasury during the First World War replaced gold for internal use within Britain after 1915. Its convenience of use was apparent over gold but many consumers and banks abroad preferred the real metal over the paper promise: the famous scene in the movie "Lawrence of Arabia" comes to mind, in which the Arab chieftain Auda Abu Tayi is promised a golden payment by Lawrence when they overcome Acaba, but discovers only chests full of currency, which he throws in havoc into the air, screaming "Paper, paper! --whereupon Lawrence promises him five thousand golden guineas (meaning of course sovereigns). The monetary crises caused by the Great War in Europe and in Arabia led to the cessation of gold minting by many of the adversaries during the war years, with the resumption of production not occurring for many until well into the 1920s. For some it ceased altogether. With the deepening of the worldwide Great Depression in the 1930s, gold coins disappeared as an everyday medium of exchange throughout most countries of the world. This marvelous 1917 sovereign was the very thing so wanted by Auda, but it would soon vanish like sandhills in a desert storm, and so would the world it financed.
Estimated Value $7,000 - 8,000.
Ex Dr Jacob Y. Terner Collection.
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| Realized
$10,925 |
Lot 471 |
 |
Great Britain. Proof Trade Dollar, 1934-B. KM-Tn5. Reported mintage of only 20 pieces. Beautiful deep iridescent toning. Very Rare. NGC graded Proof 65.
The word "dollar" entered the English language by route of Scotland, of all places. Between 1567 and 1571, King James VI struck two types of large silver coins, which were known as the "Sword Dollar" and the "Thistle Dollar" locally. The Scots preferred the term "dollar" to distinguish themselves and their money from their domineering, and territorially grasping, neighbor to the south, the English. Thus from an early date the use of the dollar carried with it a certain nationalistic, anti-English connotation. The extensive emigration of Scottish settlers to both the New and Old World colonies may well account for the ready acceptance and popularity of the word in British colonies around the world. The British trade dollar competed in Asia with the American, Mexican and other silver coins of this approximate size for many years, as silver was traditionally preferred over gold by Chinese and other mechants and bankers. The end was near in 1934, when this coin was created, for in 1935 the law was changed in Hong Kong, causing almost all 1935 and countless recent trade dollar coins to be melted, and to disappear from circulation. This is an historically significant, and extremely rare, specimen.
Estimated Value $3,000 - 3,500.
Ex Irving Goodman Collection; Illustrated in Money of The World, coin 140.
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| Realized
$18,975 |
Lot 472 |
 |
Great Britain. Proof Five Pounds, 1937. S-4074; Fr-409; KM-861. George VI, 1936-1952. Bare Head left. Reverse: St George and the Dragon, date below. A gorgeous example! NGC graded Proof 65 Ultra Cameo.
Estimated Value $1,750 - 2,000.
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| Realized
$2,990 |
Lot 473 |
 |
Great Britain. Proof Two Pounds, 1937. S-4075; Fr-410; KM-860. George VI, 1936-1952. Bare Head left. Reverse: St George and the Dragon, date below. Alluring eye appeal and exquisite color. NGC graded Proof 65.
Estimated Value $1,000 - 1,200.
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| Realized
$1,553 |
Lot 474 |
 |
Great Britain. Proof Sovereign, 1957. WR-449; S. 4124. Elizabeth II, 1953 --. Laureate Head right. Reverse: St George and the Dragon, date below. Reeded edge. R4, extremely rare (11 to 20 known). Proof of Record. A splendid, glassy-surfaced, brilliant Proof of alluring eye appeal and ultra rarity as proofs of the coronation year (bearing this early portrait) are uncollectible. NGC graded Proof 66 Cameo.
Estimated Value $5,000 - 6,000.
Ex Dr Jacob Y. Terner Collection.
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| Realized
$18,975 |
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